Nicklas Backstrom ‘progressing,’ George McPhee says

Nicklas Backstrom has not skated for 11 straight days since suffering a concussion earlier this month, but General Manager George McPhee said that the Capitals center is making progress in his recovery.

Backstrom suffered the concussion when he was elbowed by now-Montreal forward Rene Bourque, who was then a member of the Calgary Flames, on Jan. 3. The team officially lists the 24-year-old Swede as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Given that Backstrom hasn’t been skating, that there is no apparent timetable for the center’s return and the NHL’s All-Star break is eight days away, it seems unlikely that he would be ready to go before the league goes on hiatus for four days. McPhee wouldn’t go so far as to rule out the possibility, however.

“Not necessarily,” McPhee said when asked if Backstrom would be out until at least until the All-Star break. “Whenever he’s ready to get going we’ll get him going. Obviously we’re going to be real careful because we want this to be a one-time thing and something we never have to worry about again.”